The majority of the following books are from the library of Chon Tri. Many of the summaries and in his own words. If you wish to purchase the book, click on the cover image and you will be linked to Amazon.com.

Summary"The Precious Garland" is a lay paerson's guide to enlightenment, written, without fear or favor, for a king by Nagarjuna some 400 hundred years after the Buddha... "The Precious Garland" is famous for its description of the Bodhisattva path of compassion, together with its clear, concise analysis of Buddha's teaching on emptiness. "The Song of the Four Mindfulness" contains a short summary of the meditational approach to enlightenment by Kysang Gyatso, the Seventh Dalai Lama, who lived from 1708 to 1757. Brief as it is, this work nevertheless gives all the essentials of sutra and tantra...(from flaps of the book).

SummaryFrom the Publisher Composed in the eighth century by the Indian Bodhisattva, Shantideva, A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life is an outstanding presentation of the Six Perfections, by which one may harmonize one's own life with the Bodhisattva ideal. It became an instant classic in the curricula of the Buddhist monastic universities of India, and its renown has grown ever since. There were one hundred commentaries on the Guide in India, eight of which were translated into Tibetan.

As prayer is to the Christian life, so meditation is the very heart of Buddhist life. With enlightenment, or the state of Nirvana, as its goal, meditation also serves to foster spiritual development, alleviate pain, soothe the mind, and reveal the truth of existence. This introduction explains the meaning and purpose of meditation. Its series of devotional exercises include instructions on maintaining mental and physical awareness during meditation, with advice on postures, breathing, repudiation of the sensory world, remembrance of mortality, disdain for corporal existence, attaining a trance state, and recollecting the goal: Nirvana. Written by a distinguished Western scholar, it offers informative and direct explanations of Buddhist wisdom.

SummaryFrom the Publisher Expressing universal truths in witty, uplifting verses, these two texts by Nagarjuna and the thirteenth-century master Sakya Pandita offer an elegant, brief introduction to the Buddhist way of life.

"There is no ornament like virtue, There is no misery like worry, Ther is no protection like patience, There si no friend equal to generosity."

SummaryIngram Emptiness is the key teaching of the Buddha, and this book is the most comprehensive and authoritative work on this subject. It also covers the important topics of meditation, dependent arising, the four noble truths, Buddhist logic and tenets, and non-Buddhist schools of philosophy.

SummaryIn the Buddhist parable of the ox herder, a herdsman's search for his missing ox is likened to an individual's journey toward enlightenment. Buddhist masters composed this parable, whose origins reach as far back as the literature of ancient India, to guide students of Buddhism in their spiritual journeys. The Ox Herder: A Zen Parable Illustrated presents the earliest known Japanese handscroll illustrating the parable and the only one with paintings in color. Unlike many early Japanese handscrolls and books, it is intact, from its preface explaining the basic tenets of Buddhism to its signed inscription dated 1278. (10 Bulls)

SummaryLucidly and beautifully written, Peace Is Every Step contains commentaries and meditations, personal anecdotes and stories from Nhat Hanh's experiences as a peace activist, teacher, and community leader. It begins where the reader already is -- in the kitchen, office, driving a car, walking a part -- and shows how deep meditative presence is available now. Nhat Hanh provides exercises to increase our awareness of our own body and mind through conscious breathing, which can bring immediate joy and peace. Nhat Hanh also shows how to be aware of relationships with others and of the world around us, its beauty and also its pollution and injustices. the deceptively simple practices of Peace Is Every Step encourage the reader to work for peace in the world as he or she continues to work on sustaining inner peace by turning the "mindless" into the mindful. "This book of illuminating reminders bid us to reorient the way we look at the world...toward a humanitarian perspective." --Publisher Weekly

SummaryFrom the Publisher Developed in Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hanh's community in France, Plum Village Chanting And Recitation Book brings together traditional and new Buddhist chants and recitations for daily spiritual practice and for such occasions as blessing a meal, celebrating a wedding, comforting the sick, and remembering the deceased. It includes more than twenty discourses comprising some of the most fundamental teachings of the Buddha and his enlightened students. This book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to celebrate life and pratice the art of mindful living.

SummaryFor the Seasoned... For the seasoned practitioner of meditation, that is those who have had some experience in Buddhist or Taoist methods, Lu Kuan Yu presents a truly insightful guide for those who have not yet had the oppourtunity to meet a learned teacher. Chapters include those on the Surangama Sutra, the Ch'an/Zen methods, the Pure Land school, the Tien Tai school, and the Taoist meditation as well as their yogic practice; all with the author's explantory brackets and passages taken from various sources. He also dispels the notion that occidentals are not able to unite with the Buddha Dharma and presents the phenomena of the involuntary movements experienced from efficient meditation. Beginners might find the book a bit heavy in terminology and doctrine, but it will become understandable after one takes this work into consideration for sometime, and has faith in the practice.

SummaryThe Cave of Poison Grass is a profound and practical introduction to the essence of Buddhist teaching, written for the layman as well as for students of Buddhism. It combines a new translation and commentary on the Hannya Sutra, which expresses the heart of Buddhist thought, with examples and instruction in the living practice of that teaching drawn from history and tradition and from the author's own wide experience as a Zen Buddhist monk and teacher in Asia and America. The book contains many hitherto untranslated texts related to Zen and Zen training, and includes original paintings, like the cover, by the author himself. (From the BACK COVER of the book).

SummaryThe Zen book that shatters all limits and bounds This inspiriting book is a total rebellion against the intellect. It smashes our well-worn views and all of our fond illusions. Zen Master Zensho shows how we can free ourselves of the slavery of autonomous compulsive thinking and how we can experience the enlightened state of pure consciousness.

Uncompromisingly, everything is swept away so we become able to reach that boundless freedom of the Mind which lies beyond everything that sense and reason can comprehend.

Zensho's humorous geniality and his free unconventional way of conveyance bestow a tremendous vitality on his talks. His clear words are a vivid and direct revelation of the great simplicity and freedom of Zen. An exceptional book by an exceptional Zen Master.